Machine for making stereotype printing-plates.



H. A. W. WOOD.

MACHINE FOR MAKING STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION IILED IAN. I2, 1910.

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YACHINE FOR MAKING STEREOTYPE PRINTING PIATES.

APPLICM'ION HLE!) JAN. 1910 Patented D90. 14, 1915.

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APPLICATIONvFILED JAN. 12. 19H) 1,164,607. Patented D6014, 1915.

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H. A. W. WOOD.

MAKING STEREGTYPE PRHHING PLATES. ARPucATmH mp0 lAN.12, 1910.

MACHINE FOR \5 SHEETS--SHEEI 5.

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APPL ICATION FILED JAN. 32|19Q. i 1,]. .59? Patented Dec. 14, 1910.

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MAQMHE FOR 1 1MKHJG'STERE OTYPE PRiNHNG PLATES.

, APPUCAUON FILED JAN. I2, 3910.

Mtented Dec. 14, 1915.

15 SHEETS-SHEET 7' 4106x150? fiMfbfl H. A. W. WOOD.

MACHINE FOR MAKING STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I2 I9I0., Q I 1 164,601 Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

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MACHINE FOR MAKING STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES. APPLICATION FILED IAN. I2, I910.

1,164,607. I Patented Dec.14,1915.

I5 SHEET$SHEET H.

#24. 2 /16 Wood I I y I I I fforwy-s H. A. W. WOOD. MACHINE FOR MAKING STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILEI) IAN. I2. I910.

Patented Dec.14.1915.

I5 SHEETS-SHEET 12.

H. A. WFWOOD. MACHI NE FOR MAKING STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12. I910. 1,164,607. Patented Dec.14,1915.

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H. A. W. WOOD. MACHINE'FOR MAKING STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

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H. A. W. WOOD. MACHINE FOR MAKING STEREOTYPE PRINTING PLATES.

. APPLICATION FILED IAN. I2. I910. 1,164,607.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915. I5SHEEIS-SHEET 15.

he 0 .r (Zf/o??? f 0mm mwm ANN 1%fwawem STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY A. WISE WOOD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

WOOD NEWSPAPER.MAGHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPOBA- TION or vmsnvia.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 19.15.

Application filed January 12, 1910. Serial No. 537,700.

To all to ham it may concern.

Be it known that I, HENRY A. VVISE \Voon, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Machine for Making Stereotype Printing-Plates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for casting stereotype printing plates. \Vhile some of the features thereof are capable of use generally for that class of machines, yetthe invention is illustrated in.a form in which it is particularly applicable to the casting of flat plates.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a new machine. adapted automatically to take one matrix at a time from a pile of matrices in a magazine,-deliver it in the mold, fill and cool the mold, discharge the cast plate, trim, shave and deliver it, and deliver the matrix when desired; to provide a new matrix teed adapted to be adjusted so that the matrices can be fed in such a way that any desired number of plates can be cast from each matrix, or a plurality of plates from any matrix or matrices and a different number from the others, or a continuous series of plates from a single matrix; to provide a magazine capable of accommodating matrices of different sizes; to provide for delivering the matrices by means of a following matrix or dummy matrix pushing'each matrix out of the mold; to provide a melting pot having a recess to contain the pump so as to overcome the pull due to contraction of the body of the metal in the pot due to cooling; to provide means for operating the pump valve so that it shall be automatically closed by the first part of the upward movement of the pump plunger unless it is held open by means controlled by the matrix or dummy matrix; to provide means whereby if one or more of the matrices or dummy matrices have their corners cut away under the pump valve trip device, the pump valve will remain open and no plates Will be cast; to, provide a. mold adapted "to be resiliently held against the pump nozzle to allow of expansion and contraction of the parts so as to keep the mold and pump nozzle in proper relation to each other thereby preventing leakage of metal; to provide for Water cooling the casting box by means of a spray; to provide an upper casting box adjustable for different thicknesses of plates; to provide side gages for the casting box of an improved form so constructed as to form the bevels of the side of the plate, attached to the upper half of the casting box, and variable in size to suit plates of different sizes, and adapted to act as guides for the plates when they are being removed from the box; to provide a rear side gage adjustable in position to suit various sizes of plates; to provide end gages attached to the lower half of the casting box and acting as guides for the matrix, the gage at the head end of the plate adjustable for different sized plates, and having means for forming the groove for the first carrier hooks; to provide a first carrier having an adjustable stroke for plates of different sizes and having hooks adjustable sid'ewise to accommodate said plates; to provide an improved shaving knife having a preceding spring-pressed roll to prevent buckling or the plate and hold the plate in position; to provide means in connection with the casting box wherebv the bevels on the side of the plate and the thickness of the plate Shall be sufliciently true for some classes of work to avoid the necessity of the first saws and shaving mechanism; to provide convenient and practicable means for trimming two edges of each plate and then the other edges; and also to provide an improved arrangement of the first saws and shaving mechanism for certain classes of work.

The invention also involves improvements in various details of construction as will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanyinf r drawings in whichi Figure 1 is a plan of a fiat stereotype plate casting and finishing machine constructed in accordance withthis invention with some parts removed so that interior construction can be seen. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with parts removed. Fig.

'3 s an end elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a' sectional View on the line H of Fig. 1. Fig, 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine showing the magazine for holdingjthe matrices in position to be fed into the mold. Fig. 6 is a plan of the same. Fig.

7 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. with parts in section. Fig. 8 is a. similar elevation with parts removed to show interior construction. Fig. 9 is a plan similar to Fig. 6 with parts removed and with a matrix inposition. Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 1010 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a sectional view like Fig. 10 showing the parts ,in a dilferent position. Fig. 12 is an elevgfion of a portion of the matrix magazine. ig. 13 is a plan of-a matrix suitable for usein this machine. Fig. 14 is a sectional view on the line 14'14 of Fig. 1. Fig. 14' isa section of 'a detail. Fig. 15 is an end view of the mold, partly in section. Fig. 16 is an elevation of a portion of the mold showing the cooling means. Fig. 17 is a central view on the line -1717 of Fig. 16 in the direction of the arrow. Fig, 18 is a plan of the parts of the mold'below the view of themeltingpot and casting pump showing'other features in elevation. Fig. is an elevation of the casting mouti thereof. Fig. 26is a vertical sectional view ofart of the mold showing the plate in posltion to be removed. Fig- 27 is a similar view showing the plate partially trimmed on the edge. Fig. 28 is a plan of a portion of the device at the rear of the portion shown in Fig.1. Fig. 29 is a sectional view on the line 29-29 of Fig. 28. Fig. 30 is a sectional view on the line 30- 30 of Figs-1 and 28, a part being shown in section on the line XX in Fig. 1. Fig. 31 is a transverse sec tional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of a guide shown in Fig. 30. Fig- 32 is a sectional view on the line 32'32 of Fig. 28..

Fig. 33 is an elevation of the plate delivery means shown in Fig. 4, and Fig. 34 is a sectional view of a detail.

This invention is shown in a form for casting stereotype plates and as embodying a frame 30 having means for supporting various parts of the machine. At one end of the frame are brackets 31 supporting the transverse driving shaft 32 which is 1'0- vidcd with a driving pulley 33 (Figs. 3, 4 and 28.) By bevel gears 34 this shaft drives a short longitudinal shaft 35 having a worm 36 for driving a worm wheel 37 fast on a transverse shaft 38 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) which by bevel gears 39 drives a longitudinal shaft 40 at the front side of the machine. At one side of this\frame are a pair of laterally projecting brackets 41 separated from each other and on which is supported the magazine for the matrices. This magazine is 'side member.

Fig. 21 is an elevation looking bars 46. One of the side members is firmly secured to its bracket and the other is adj ustable thereon. Both of the side members are provided with two slots in which the ends of these c'i'oss bars 46 extend and the latter are screwed or otherwise fixed to these side members in the slots and are provided with fastening pieces 47 Each of the cross bars 46 is provided with a longitudinal slot 48 through which pass screws or bolts 49 by which it is secured adjustably to the other In this way, the distance apart of the side members, and therefore, the width and length of the magazine, can be regulated as desired so as to provide for matrices M of any desired .width and length.

Extending along the side of the magazine are a pair of reoiprocable rods 50. On each of these rods are mounted two fingers 51 which project toward each other through horizontal slots 52 in the side members of the magazine and are provided at their inner ends with supports 53 in the magazine on which the matrices are supported, as indicated more particularly in Fig. 10. The matrices are dropped by the longitudinal motion of these supports 53 which permits a single matrix'to be dropped at a time on a central and two side supports 54. Adjustably mounted on the cross bars are retaining bars 55-55 extending inwardly and spaced from the bottom of the magazine a distance sufficient to permit the matrices to be discharged under them. a

The rods 50 are guided in boxes 56 sup-, ported by the flanges 44 and and by boxes 5'? supported at the other ends of the side members 42 and 43. On each of the rods is a key 58 on which the fingers are adjustable longitudinally. They are held in position by screws 59. The dropping of the matrices one by one is accomplished as follows :Each matrix is provided with a pair of opposite edge notches M near one end, and with a pair of similar opposite edge 120 notches M at a greater distance from the other end. These notches are all of a shape and size to permit the supports 53 to pass through them, and are the same distance apart as said supports. The matrices are 125 placed in the magazine alternately, that is, so that notches M and M are alternately at the head or feeding edge of matrix. When the rods 50 move forward, if the supports register with the notches, the bottom matrix will drop and the next matrix will rest on the supports (Fig. 11.) Then on the completion of the reverse motion the second matrix will drop.

In order to move the rods 50 the shaft 40 is provided with a gear or pinion G1 which operates a gear 62 on which is mounted a double throw cam 64?. (iear 6'2 rotates on a stud 05;). This cam operates a springpressed cam roller 05 on a lever 72 which is connected. by screw 73 to lever 66 which is provided with a gear segment (37. This gear segment meshes with. a pinion 68 and turns the same periodically so as to oscillate a'pinion and shaft (39, and reciprocate the pair of rods 50 which are provided with racks on the bottom. This carries the fingers 51 back and forth periodically and uniformly so as to deliver the matrices under them, as has been described. To adjust the throw of the lever 66 to accommodate the location of the notches M" and M a rod 66 is pivoted to the lever and has an adjustable collar 66 which engages the bracket on which the rod is mounted. The lever 66. and therefore the roller 65., is yleldingly held in position by a spring 66. The screw 73 can be removed so as to leave the lever 66 free so that no matrices will be fed. Then if the screw 73 is out the lever can be turned to feed a matrix and held for casting any number of plates from it. )n the shaft 69 is a handle 71 by which the shaft can be turned independently of the power, and held so as to cast any desired number of plates from a single matrix.

' On the shaft 40 is located a cam 75 which operates a spring-pressed forked lever 70. By means of a lever 77 this reciprocates a slide 78 which is mounted on a guide or support 79. This slide carries a pair of cars 80 supporting a rod 81 on which'are mounted two arms 82 each having a pushing finger 83 at the end thereof. One of these is adjustable along the rod to provide for matrices of different widths. Every time the roll (35 comes either on the low or high part of thi cam 64 the slide 78 is moved to discharge a matrix from the magazine. If it is desired to deliver matrices at alternate r0- tations of the shaft 40, so as to cast two plates from each matrix the cam 6.4 is changed. In this case the cam would have one high and one low part of approximately equal length. This slide 78 then moves forwardly and the fii'ig'ers 83 which come up between the brackets 41 engage the rear of the matrix deposited thereon to push it out of the .maelazine, as shown more particularly in Fig. 8.

The side member 49 is shown as stationary, and the side-member 43 is shown as provided with a projection 85 having slots 80 through which it adjustably secured by screws 87 to one of the brackets 41. A

reciprocatory supporting plate 91 is mounted to move in vertical guides 92 on the frame, and carries the lower casting box 9 The upper casting box supported on two brackets 3:20 on which are standards 70 321 carrying rods 322 and 332 Figs. 1, 2 and The upperbox is supported from the rods by plates -323. ()n the rods are springs 32% bearing on the plates 2-3;) nearest the melting pot. and on' collars 325 fixed to the rods. These springs obviously tend to keep the upper box yieldingly against the nozzle. The lower box 93 is held up against the nozzle by a spring 32 operating a rock shaft 327 which is provided with an arm 328 engaging the end of the box. This allowsfor expansion and contraction and keeps the boxes in proper relation to the pump nozzle so as to prevent leakage.

'Ihrough the bases of the plates pass thimbles which extend slightly below the bottom thereof. A bolt 330 extends through each thimble and these bolts fasten the upper. box to the standard 321. The thimbles rest on the distance piece by which the elevation of the upper box is controlled. This construction permits the springs 324 to keep the upper box up against the nozzle. The rod rests in open slots on the brackets 321.

The two casting boxes 93 and 95 are provided with cooling water inlet and outlet pipes 96. Figs. 10 and 17. Inside each of these boxes is a chamber 97 for receiving water from the pipes each having a perforated plate 08 through which the water is discharged in a spray on the inner surfaces of the bottom and top plates of the casting boxes. ietween these bottom and top plates is the mold proper. It has side gages 99 and 100 respectiwly which form the bevels of the sides of the plates. See Figs. 18 to These gages are fastened to the upper casting box 95 and one of them can be adjusted out and in to provide for casting plates of different sizes. \Vhen the plate is removed from the casting box, as will be explained hereinafter, the upper inner bevelededges 101 ofthese gages act as guides for the sides of the plates. Their adjustment is secured by means of screw connections 102 or in any other desired way. The casting box is also provided with cut gages 103 and 104 one of which is adjustably fastened to the lower casting box section it"). These act as guides for the matrix when it is being introduced into the casting box. The one at the head end of the plate is adjustable in the same way as the side gages or in any other desired-way, for plates of different sizes and it has a longitudinal projection 105 which forms a transverse groove P in the cast plate for the first car icr hooks. The

matrices are discharged from the magazine in the pot upon cooling.

with the side gages by means of the pusher fingers 83. The gage 103 projects down at the side and rests in a dovetailed groove 103 on the casting box. It is fastened to the box at one end and free at the other so as to allow of free'contraction and expansion. Likewise the gage 104 is fixed at one end to a fixed adjustable knee 104: and is free at the other, where it is dovetailed to a companion knee 104. as shown in Fig. 20. Then the supporting plate 91 is raised by a cam 106 on the shaft 40 which operates an arm 107 on the frame 30 and provided with a connecting rod 108 extending back toward the center of the machine. With this latter rod is pivotally connected an arm 109 on a rock shaft 110 which is provided with another arm 111, these parts constituting in effect a bell-crank. The arm 111 is pivotally con- 'nected with a connecting rod 112 which is pivoted to the bottom of the plate 91 (see Fig. 14). On the frame is mounted a bracket 113 provided with an adjustable stop. 11 1 for limiting the motion of the connection between the parts 111 and 112 and preventing them from going too far beyond the center.

Mounted in a vertical guide 125 on the up per section of the casting box is a pin 126 which projects down through into the casting box so that as the lower section of the box moves up, if the matrix is in position, the matrix will engage the bottom of the pin and raise it enough to move an arm 127 which is mounted on a rockshaft 128. If, however, the corner of the matrix or dummy matrix is cut away, the parts can be moved up into casting position without moving the pin so that this shaft will not be operated. When this shaft is turned by the proper closing of the box containing a complete matrix and adapted to receive metal, this causes a latch 129 thereon to be moved from the path of the top of a vertical rod 130 having a valve 131 thereon; but if the parts operate with a dummy matrix in position which has the rear left-hand corner cut away, the latch 129 will remain over the top of the rod 130 and hold the latter down. The object of this construction will be seen from the following description of the operation of the pump.

On the shaft 4-0 is a cam 110 operating a roller 111 on a spring pressed arm 142 which is fixed on a rock shaft 143. This rock shaft operates an arm l i-l which reciprocates a pump plunger 115 in a melting pot 14-0. This pll'lnger is mounted in an openbottomed cylinder 147 submerged in the pot and the cylinder is located in a recess within a perforated wall 148 in the pot to protect the pump against the tension or pull due to the contraction of the body of metal Now each rotation of the (am 140 will move the plunger through a complete reciprocation in the pump cylinder. The upward reciprocation 'upward movement 0 the ump plunger on account of the tendency 'o the metal raised thereby to flow out of the opening 150 unless the valve is held down by the latch, so that if. one or more of thematrices or dummy matrices in the mold have their corners cut away all the parts of the pump will operate but the metal will not be forced into the casting box. .1

If it is desired to keep the valve 131 down all the timeso that no metal can be forced from the pump, as for instance while repairing machinery, the rock shaft 128 is'turned to bring a catch 152 over a fixed collar 153.

on the rod 130. This can be done by pulling :up on the arm 127 when in the position to the width of the mold cavity in the casting box. The height of the slot is regulated by the position of a top part 156 held in adjustable position by bolts 157 passed through elongated orifices therein. Both the top and bottom members of the end of the nozzle are shown as cooled by air passing through passages 158. This is provided to cause the metal to chill at the proper place between the plate and. the body of metal left in the nozzle.

When the casting boxes close another plate will be cast from the same matrix unless another one or a dummy is fed into the lower casting box while in lowest position.

In that case the' old matrix will be forced out of the box by the rear matrix-guided by the end gages and drop at the rear of the frame.

As has been stated, the casting box is so constructed that the projection on the gage 104 forms a notch P in the forward end of the plate 1 and on the under side thereof. This notch is made use of in with drawing the plate from the casting box. On the shaft 38 is a cam 105 which operates a roller 166 on a lever 167. up so that the roller engages the cam surface by a spring 168. On the end this lever is provided with a ear segment 109 meshing with a pinion 170 on a transverse shaft 171 so that this shaft will be caused to oscillate. On this shaft' is a gear or pinion 172 This lever is held which operates a sliding rack 173. On this sliding rack is a cross bar 174 to which are adjustably fixed a pair of arms 175 that extend forward. See Figs. 26 and 27. Each of the arms is provided with a pivot pin 176 on which is pivotallv mounted a finger 177 having a 'hook 178 thereon adapted to engage in the notch P", as indicated more particularly in Figs. 26 and 27. A spring 179 holds the hook yieldingly in position for engaging the plate while held by the side gages on the upper part of the box so that upon the reverse motion of the sliding rack, the plate will be drawn out of the box longitudinally: The plate is drawn on a pair of supports 180 each a? which is bifurcated to permit the hook to pass between them. These supports are laterally adjustable along a cross rod 289. The stroke of the lever 167 is adjustable for plates of different sizes. This is done by providing a collar 181 on the spring rod. This collar has a so". screw which comes up against a bracket 182 on the frameand according toits adjustsegment 193.

men-t holds the cam roll off the low part of the cam so as to shorten the stroke. It will be observed also that as the hooks draw the plates out in themanner just described, they are brought against the edge trimming saws 183 and their edges by which they are 'held up in the upper half of the mold are trimmed while being drawn out. These saws are operated by a pulley 18 (Fig. 3)

on the trans erse shaft 32 at the end of the machine. This pulley has a belt 185 upon \Vli'l1 it passes around idlers 186 to the pulley 187 on the saw shaft. For some classes of work these saws can ,be dispensed with as the edge bevels can be made accurately enough by th gages.

Between the supports 180 is an adjustable support 188 which helps carry the plate when it has been: moved out by the first carrier hooks 178. W hen the plate reaches the position on the supports 180 and 188 its course is changed exactly at right-angles and the plate is delivered from the main body of the machine by the following mechanism. On the shaft are a pair of cams 190 and 190 operating rollers 191 and 191 on a pivot arm 192 which carries a gear This gear segment operates a pinion 19a which oscillates a shaft 195 mounted in brackets 196 on the frame and this shaft through a gear or pinion 197 reciprocates a rack 198. This rack is fixed to a sli lo 189 which moves along a transverse guide 199. llpon the slide is located a rod .590 having fixed pusher-s 201 which engage the rear of the plate and slide it along over a guide 202. This brings the plate into a position on a fiat support 203 secured on a fixed l'nacket 20-l on tho sideof the frame. This support is )rovided .wi-Lh'an upturned edge 205 against which the edge-of the plate is adapted to be moved. It is provided also with a block 305 entering in the notch P in the plate to prevent the blade moving the plate back on its rearward travel.

Mounted on the end of the shaft 38 is a crank arm 206 having a roller 207 thereon adapted to move in a vertical groove 208 on a slide 209. See Figs. 28 to 31. This slide moves in ways 210 on the bracket 204:. Carried on this slide is a blade holder 211 on which is mounted a shaving blade 212. Also on the slide are arms 213 carrying a roller 21% yieldingly pressed down by springs 215. As the slide travels longitudinally of the machine it passes the blade over the plate and shaves the back thereof the roller pressing down on the plate in front of the blade to prevent buckling of the plate. It will be understood'that the edge of the plate is held against the projection 205 at this time. For some classes of work the shaving blade can be dispensed with as the plate can be cast to thickness with a few degrees of accuracy. After this shaving operation takes place, the rack 198 is moved back to get another plate. lVhen the slide 189 moves back there is no plate in position behind these pushers 201 and there is no obstacle to their backward motion. (ln the slide are two rock shafts 217 having pushers 218 and 219 respectively fixed the eon. Fach rod has an arm 220 extending upwardly between a pair of lugs 221 on'a rod This rod is carried in bearings fixed on the slide and moves with it but is free to slide in its bearings. As the slideapproaches the end of its stroke as shown in 30, the rod 222 comes against adjustable stop 223 on an arm 22%. The continued motion of the slide moves the rod back so as to tip the pushers 218 and 219 up out of the way of the plates, so that the slide can move back. As it approaches the other end of its travel the rod is moved the other way by the adjustable stop 225 on another arm. 225. This turns the pushers back into position with their lower ends below the tops of the plates so that the pushers 218 are ready to remove a plate from the support 203 and the pushcrs 219 to advance the preceding plate out of the machine. I

As eachplate is pushed off the support 203 its edges engage guides 220 and 227 of the same shape as the end gages of the mold so as to fit the edges of the plate and it mo 'cs on laterally adjustable supports 230 and passes over a pair of saws 231 which cut off the head and tail and trim or bevel the edges. These saws are operated as follows :The shaft 32 by means of beveled gears 233, drives alongitudinal shaft 234: on which is a pulley 235 which by means of a belt 236 drives the saw pulley 237. This belt passes over adjustable idlers 238. At the sides of the supports 230 are edge sup- 

